Tech Roundup – Remembering the Old, Ushering in the New and some Apple News (As Usual)

Let us start right away – with the latest news first. Just a few hours ago, Google got a major reprieve from the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) – in an anti-climactic culmination of an extensive anti-trust probe. An adverse ruling could have challenged the primacy of Google in the search universe – a leadership position that baiters argue has been used selectively to promote favored products. Apart from conceding very small and technical point (which Google baiters can tout as a small victory), the search giant has effectively come out unscathed. Many observers have warned about the virtual monopoly that Google holds in the search universe, and its likely ill effects for the casual searcher.

Still talking about Google – it took a heartening initiative this week – when it devoted its home page in India to the memory of the Delhi brave heart who succumbed to a unspeakable crime – and lit a simple candle like millions of others – in place of its usually gung-ho Google Doodles.

Recently, an entity that is so favored by people young and old (mostly young!) turned 30 – and it is the Internet! 30 years back, US DoD commissioned ARPANET gave way to the Internet Protocol Suite, and a revolution soon started – although it was not really clear at that moment – except to the most prescient of observers (Steve Jobs and Bill Gates among them).

Everyone knows (or maybe doesn’t!) what happened to Aakash 1 and Aakash 2, but here is some mews regarding Aakash 3 – it will feature a SIM slot, a front facing camera and Linux support. One can just hope that more and more kids get the tablet – and actually use it for studying!

With the recent euphoria surrounding the launch of iPhone 5 and iPad Mini still intact, here is some news that will throw Apple lovers into fresh frenzy – there are already traces of the probable iPhone 6 and iOS7 doing the rounds in app usage logos. In another development, Apple is also expected to launch iPhone Mini – a “lite” version of its much vaunted phone but at a lower price point – primarily for sales in India and China.

Last, but not the least – another piece of heartening news regarding another long awaited product – the LG OLED TV. The much anticipated TV has finally come to the market – with LG starting taking pre-orders from January 3, 2013 in Korea, with deliveries scheduled to start by the next month.